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A staggering 22 tonnes of coal went missing from the bogey of a train that was carrying coal for the 1,320 megawatt Sahiwal coal-fired power plant, the first-ever such project in Pakistan, it emerged on Thursday.
A second special train carrying 22 tonnes of coal in each of its 18 carriages reached Sahiwal railway station last evening.
On Thursday morning, railways guards informed the assistant station master (ASM) that coal was missing from bogey number 96329.
The train which was on its way from Port Qasim had stopped on its way at Kulab railway station near Bahawalpur, a railway official said, adding that an investigation has been started to ascertain how the coal went missing.
The first consignment of 43,999 tonnes of coal imported from South Africa for the trial operations of the Sahiwal power plant was unloaded at Port Qasim last month.
Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif had said last week the power plant has been connected to the national grid after its completion.
He added that the power plant will generate 1,320MW from June after its testing has been completed.
The $1.8 billion Sahiwal power plant has two units of 660MW each and would be first power plant to be run on imported coal.
The government, thereafter, imposed a ban on plants run on imported coal and stressed upon the need to use indigenous coal from Thar.
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Comments (81) Closed
Feb 02, 2017 03:20pm
When Mr Saad Rafique will be the Minister then such incidents to be considered as norms ... Nothing new.
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Feb 02, 2017 03:27pm
22 tonnes of coal!!
Someone took 22 tonnes it in there pocket, and no one knew about it
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Feb 02, 2017 03:28pm
Nothing new. This is Pakistan railway and saad rafique is the minister.
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Feb 02, 2017 03:33pm
@khail007 Pls ask Mr. Saad Rafique to resign as Minister, as usual.
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Feb 02, 2017 03:42pm
What a country..!
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Feb 02, 2017 03:43pm
22 tonnes missing. big figure. yes, but can not be called staggering. out of 43999 tonnes, 22 tonnes makes a mere .05 percent.
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Feb 02, 2017 03:43pm
Question the train driver and the guard, sure both of them must be knowing.
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Feb 02, 2017 03:48pm
We will soon hear about a fire where all the documents for this project were kept. You can bet on it.
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Feb 02, 2017 03:48pm
If Train has total 22 Tonnes and the Gaurd told that only one Boggey is empty then the stolen Coal must be less than stagering 22 Tonnes..
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Feb 02, 2017 04:03pm
why they had to import coal from South Africa???
don't we have some of the biggest coal reserves in Balochistan ?
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Feb 02, 2017 04:03pm
What can you say when you have corrupted people in charge of every little thing. Punjab and sindh has the most corrupted politicians.
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Feb 02, 2017 04:16pm
@Dasti
..."A second special train carrying 22 tonnes of coal in each of its 18 carriages reached Sahiwal railway station last evening."
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Feb 02, 2017 04:11pm
22 tonnes of coal doesn't simply vanish! There has to be a group of people behind this - a very big group maybe railway officials?. Railway officials should be questioned including Saad Rafique. Had Saad Rafique focused a little on Railways instead of jumping up and down to please Nawaz Sharif in Panama Leaks case, then maybe we wouldn't have to see one shocking incident after another related to Railways.
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Feb 02, 2017 04:11pm
Thanks God it's 22 tons of coal not gold. The report says train stopped at Gulab Railway Station near Bhawalpur. The crime rate
of Bhawalpur is well before Punjab Govt, it's not difficult for Punjab Govt to trace the coal trail,because coal always left black color spots wherever it travel.
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Feb 02, 2017 04:19pm
Thieves must have big pockets to take away 22 tonnes of coal in their pockets.
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Feb 02, 2017 04:18pm
Sold Out by the train management or by the people of the area where it stopped in transit.
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Feb 02, 2017 04:23pm
@Dasti You didn't read it properly, the train had 22 tones in each of its Boggey.
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Feb 02, 2017 04:21pm
@Justwasif .Please don't be so disappointed.Our country is better than 100 countries.The people,weather,rivers,mountains,farmers,vegetables,fruits,cotton,leather,rice,wheat,industries,markets,the philantropsts,doctors,engineers,students,teachers,professors,ALL EXCELLENT, yes you can pin point and blame the political parties,their cronies,their corrupt leaders,for degrading the name of our nation,otherwise our country mashallah is better than 100 countries,go check it.
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Feb 02, 2017 04:30pm
wow- Great job done by railway staff in coordination with stealers
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Feb 02, 2017 04:24pm
This is hilarious. coal can be used only for industrial purpose now a days...how can anybody steal coal and not get caught?
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Feb 02, 2017 04:26pm
The railways minister should be held accountable.
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Feb 02, 2017 04:26pm
Someone has very deep pockets to steal so much coal.
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Feb 02, 2017 04:37pm
Laughing out Loud
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Feb 02, 2017 04:41pm
@mansoor mubeen , dont know how you came to the conclusion of 0.05% but it is roughly about 5.8% , there were 18 carts of which one was stolen , the total amount was off loaded at port qasim , so thats not shipped yet and god knows how much of it there has been stolen and how much further along the line during transport will be stolen .
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Feb 02, 2017 04:38pm
The project is more important for the country and PMLN is taking Pakistan towards the future
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Feb 02, 2017 04:44pm
This is in part laughable. In one Indian city we had a case of missing dustbins- now those are large ones. In Kolkata once a gang dug up an entire street in full day light came with dumpers and equipment and stole all copper wire along kms of road.
Some one stole a train! Some one stole a gate of an apartment complex. In cities we also have a unique problem of thieves stealing logos from cars. Why even the toilet mug comes with a chain!! In long distance trains they steal tubelight. Amazing South Asia!
This news is quite humorous if one were to have a funny bone.
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Feb 02, 2017 04:59pm
This is amazing. It is not a work of ordinary thieves or way-robbers, who unload gunny bags full of grains or snatch ladies purses, but is the work of high level robbers within the ranks and files of the Government. Therefore, the concerned law enforcing authorities are requested to please catch the criminals and brought them to the light in order to name and shame them publicly.
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Feb 02, 2017 05:06pm
" If you are going to steal. Steal big." Twenty two tons of coal could not have disappeared without those security guards on the night shift knowing about it. They had to be in on the deal.
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Feb 02, 2017 05:11pm
You know it is MLN era, they are competing with Zardari's 5 years. Good going Saad Rafiq.
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Feb 02, 2017 05:12pm
Is that some kind of a joke? 22 tonnes of coal just got vanished without been witnessed by a single eye.. huhhh..
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Feb 02, 2017 05:10pm
_ South African coal _ is anthracite coal which is purer - 92% to 98% carbon. It is more expensive and cleaner burning than bituminous (or soft coal). Pakistan does not produce anthracite coal. It must be imported.
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Feb 02, 2017 05:11pm
Coal based power plants are almost always sited either at the coal mine mouth or at the port (for imported coal), and then it is convenient and economical to transfer electricity through transmission lines to power consumption centres. Difficult to understand logic behind siting this coal power plant at Sahiwal, which requires transportation of huge quantities of coal from Karachi to Sahiwal and then difficult disposal problem for massive quantities of residual ash from burning of coal. Can some one throw light on this siting of the power plant?
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Feb 02, 2017 05:09pm
Just in case people thinks its million or billion rupees worth of coal. Here is what it worth.
A ton of coal cost = $50 (Base on avg price in 2016 use for thermal power in pakistan)
Coal stolen = 22 metric tons
Total cost = $660 (69,164 PKR ~ 69 thousand)
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Feb 02, 2017 05:15pm
I am surprised train wasn't stolen.
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Feb 02, 2017 05:20pm
What a great management by the Railway Minister, who is seen spending most of his time at Panama Leaks hearing at the SC and then in press conferences defending Sharifs. Are they Ministers of State of Pakistan drawing salaries & huge perks from national exchequer or working as servants of PM?
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Feb 02, 2017 05:27pm
It's the new magic trick
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Feb 02, 2017 05:33pm
@Truth It is to do with politics, It gives employment to local people, who will eventually give vote to them. Cost is another matter, as the rulers have big pocket, they can afford it, the citizen is another matter which does not come in the equation.
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Feb 02, 2017 05:49pm
we are quick to blame. we are nation are corrupt. we all need to fix our self only way we will be successful if we do the right things
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Feb 02, 2017 05:57pm
@Dasti each bogy has 22 tonnes.
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Feb 02, 2017 05:58pm
OMG! How corrupt to the core our planners are. Dey wasted 1.8 B USD public money on a outdated and most polluted technology which will run on imported coal.
How is going to hold them accoutable?
Wake up people before its too late.
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Feb 02, 2017 06:05pm
@mansoor mubeen
Total in train was 22 tons per carriage with 18 carriages total.
Thats one entire carriage missing.
43,999 tons was the total imported and at port not on train.
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Feb 02, 2017 06:18pm
@Narejo .how do you say its outdated technology and its a waste.do you have any proof or are you a keyboard warrior of imrannkhan who cant appreciate the good.
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Feb 02, 2017 06:19pm
Looks like the story from bollywood movie "Gunday"
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Feb 02, 2017 06:16pm
Minister should pay for it !
Thar is full of coals & they r importing from South Africa !
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Feb 02, 2017 06:30pm
Thanks god its not load with gold
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Feb 02, 2017 06:36pm
Bogey 96329 may have something more precious than coal in the name of coal. Let us see what comes out if it ever does.
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Feb 02, 2017 06:44pm
My observations (a) Inexperienced thief only could steal alike otherwise either the whole train had been stolen if not then at least the bogey or bogies containing coal should have been stolen and not just the coal itself (b) Secondly there must be curfew enforced in the area when coal was stolen otherwise hence all were inside their houses and not allowed to come out otherwise someone could see it (c) The thief must not be knowing where to use it since it cannot be used for cooking rice (d) Just wait as the thief shall have to come out and ask others as to what to do with such a big quantity of coal. (e) Where the hell that much quantity can be stored is a big question (f) I wonder how and why Railway Minister and Chief Minister Punjab did not come into action till now? (g) Will Supreme Court or High Court will take suo moto action? Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait / zaidi.formerdiplomat@hotmail.com
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Feb 02, 2017 06:38pm
Pakistan produces enough good quality coal, why it has to import the coal. In mountains surrounding Quetta, there is plenty of coal and is being produced as well.
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Feb 02, 2017 06:48pm
This is a test case. If nothing happened then in every trip of freight there will be one empty bogey will reach to the destination.
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Feb 02, 2017 06:50pm
Another Jewel in the Crown of PML N.
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Feb 02, 2017 06:53pm
Only a fool will attempt to steal 22 tonnes of coal, not something that can be put into the pocket or stolen easily. A half decent Police force should be able to solve this case in less than half a day.
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Feb 02, 2017 07:13pm
Fantastic. 'Coal went missing'. With so much coal missing, it must have been done with collaboration of some 'insiders'. Lets see if they can (a) Catch the thieves (b) Punish the thieves. Or may be nothing will happens and thieves will go scott free?
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Feb 02, 2017 07:15pm
@SAEED PK We ve been since he took oath.
CORRECTION: Before he has taken oath
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Feb 02, 2017 07:21pm
@layman Well said & stay blessed.
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Feb 02, 2017 07:22pm
@Narejo this is nothing but reality. The planners are corrupt and looking for personal gain as pm is excellent example in this regard. Pakistan progress lies only in having honest and sincere exectives in upper echelons. That's why sane feels ashamed of being considered as 4th class nation among underdeveloped states.
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Feb 02, 2017 07:36pm
Oh Com'on its just 22 tonnes. Millions or billion of rupees have gone missing from Pakistan and you are talking about just 22 tonnes of Coal.
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Feb 02, 2017 07:50pm
The question is, are people of Pak going to get to the bottom of it and demand justice or just shrug their shoulders and continue with their lives?
22 tonnes of coal goes missing and no heads roll is a slap on the face of the nation. In order to make things right, people must rise as the country belongs to its people and it is up to the people if they want to claim their right on the country or not.
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Feb 02, 2017 07:49pm
thanks god train has not gone "missing"
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Feb 02, 2017 07:56pm
@Narejo Which government approved the the plant? A wise person. Will first figure out that before blaming present or any government.
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Feb 02, 2017 07:58pm
What a joke our country is becoming.
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Feb 02, 2017 08:19pm
I remember movie gang's of Wasseypur....
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Feb 02, 2017 08:45pm
I was not surprised to read this news. Twenty Two tons of coal will provide money for some one in need. Railway Minister has the knowledge who did it. He has full control of the Pakistan Railways. I am sure soon you will hear good news.
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Feb 02, 2017 08:48pm
This is now our culture and look how easy is the stealing !
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Feb 02, 2017 08:52pm
Saad Rafique the minister of railway accidents and coal stealing !
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Feb 02, 2017 09:00pm
Not One Not Two, but twenty two tons of coal is missing. it looks that a gang of thieves from Old American West on horses have landed in Sahiwal.
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Feb 02, 2017 09:04pm
This may the Pakistani Movie set for the 1903 movie "The Great Train Robbery"
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Feb 02, 2017 09:12pm
Kh Saad Rafique you have done a good job for railways betterment. Do more efforts to avoid any mishap as it always defame the country and its people. Good Work in railways
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Feb 02, 2017 09:13pm
I cant believe all the way from South Africa!!!
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Feb 02, 2017 09:14pm
Alas, people has started criticism for such a small loss but they have no courage
to praise the workers who are going to complete the entire coal project six months before to the deadline. shame on such people. be proud Pakistanis and leave negativity
be positive
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Feb 02, 2017 09:25pm
@vendor : The indigenous coal from Thar has very high content of Sulpher (>6%) and other metallic impurities. Therefore it not suitable to burn in coal fired power plants. Environmental problem for people in the area will be very big and people will suffer. It will be very expensive to set up a desulphurization plant . The coal quality from South Africa or Poland are far better with Sulphur (
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Feb 02, 2017 09:40pm
I remember a few years back when entire locomotives of Pakistan railways were melted down and sold for metal.I am talking about locomotives in running condition. It was during first term of Benazir and and Usman farooqi was the chairman of Pakistan Steel Mills. Anyone remember Mr.Usman Farooq!
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Feb 02, 2017 09:59pm
@khail007, Saad Rafique has been a good Railway Minister for 3 years or so and had improved the systems many ways. There is no financial scandal against him so far,if there is any, Media did not cover it. Even, the most aggressive critic of PML-N has said good things about him. Read for example Haroon Rasheed, a dear friend of Imran Khan.
This coal theft of 22 Tons is from one Cargo car. It seems like the whole car was stolen at a stop. I am sure it will be recovered or the culprit will be arrested soon.
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Feb 02, 2017 10:24pm
What a wonderful action of the Government in imposing a ban on plants run on imported coal and stressing upon the need to use indigenous coal from Thar, after constructing a $1.8 billion plant that can only run on coal not available in the coutry!
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Feb 03, 2017 12:09am
Coal imported from south Africa! I was under impression that Pakistan had coal reserves of its own. What if supply line from south Africa is disrupted, plant remains shut. Do they ever do the feasibility study before setting up any plant, I guess a photo-op for PM Nawaz takes priority.
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Feb 03, 2017 01:09am
@PHILOSOPHER (FROM JAPAN) ,You are right the total worth of this stolen cole will be around 75x22 = $1650.00. And people are saying Saad Rafiq stool this . He has ways to make millions why would he do it .We Pakistanis have a big problem of conspiracy in every thing.
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Feb 03, 2017 01:16am
Who authorize such projects which require coal from far away South Africa. I don't think it will be part of CPEC as Chinese are intelligent and won't do such uneconomical project unless they are guarateened 20% something guaranteed returns. Only on bogey gone out of 18. How much was lost while coming from South Africa.
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Feb 03, 2017 01:31am
Inquiry will reveal that there was whole at the bottom of the carriage so all coal dropped from it. Inquiry closed. Actual nes is atleast 5 tons coal was taken from every bogey and nobody knew or complained as everybody got their baksheesh.
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Feb 03, 2017 08:42am
@M. Siddique, you are so innocent!
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Feb 03, 2017 08:45am
@Junaid "back to the future you mean"
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Feb 03, 2017 08:47am
Hope that in future it will be avoided
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Feb 03, 2017 02:46pm
@Omar... Yes indeed..
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